Praising Pence: An Israeli View

Yesterday concluded Vice President Mike Pence’s first official visit to the Holy Land. After his previous planned Middle East trip was delayed by the all-important Congressional Tax Reform, using his Vice Presidential tie-breaking vote to pass it, he has kept his promise to make an official visit. After two months have passed since President Trump confirmed what the Jewish people have known for over 3,000 years, that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the State of Israel; now his Vice President has met with Egyptian, Jordanian, and Israeli officials at a vital turning point in the Middle East.

Since the Trump Administration’s announcement, there has been some push back, which was generally accepted to happen. Though, the push-back on recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel 20 years ago could have started a major conflict against Israel. Today, we have seen a sharp change in the region, with the Sunni Arab states inching closer to normalisation with Israel, the push-back has only come from the misguided Palestinian Authority.

All of this has lead up to the Vice President’s trip to Israel, a trip that was supposed to include Palestinian Authority leaders, whom has decided to boycott Pence’s visit. Though, Mike Pence visited the holiest site to the Jewish people, the Western Wall, the Vice President was not permitted to travel to Bethlehem, which is under the Palestinian Authority. The Bethlehem boycott was an offense by the Palestinian’s Authority against the United States, while the trip was purely diplomatic, this was heartbreaking to the Vice President, a devout Christian who was eager to his pay respects to Bethlehem’s Christian holy sites. One could see his trip to Bethlehem as a holy pilgrimage as the Muslims see their trip to Mecca as a holy pilgrimage.

Over his trip, Vice President Pence gave his address to the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament in Jerusalem. He spoke on the recognition of Jerusalem, Iran’s destructive actions in the region, the strength of the US-Israel relationship, and on bringing about a final peace agreement between Israel and their Arab neighbors. He also met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Rivlin, another great opportunity for these world leaders to speak on the challenges facing Israel and region. Not to mention the Vice President’s solidification that the United States is keeping their promise to move their embassy to Jerusalem by 2019!

On the Vice President’s scheduled to visit Yad VaShem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, he was able to pay his respects. A visit that many world leaders make, understanding the lessons of the Holocaust is of global importance. As a proud Jew, I thank the Vice President for taking the time to learn about the atrocities that in the modern era has heavily impacted the decisions of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

Since President Trump’s historic decision to give full American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital, there has been tension and much banter between the Trump Administration and the Palestinian Authority. Now the Vice President has finished his first state visit to Israel. As the Israeli people embraced the decision, we welcomed the Vice President with open arms. I praise Vice President Pence on keeping his trip, especially when he has had many opportunities to cancel, mostly due to Congressional votes and backlash from the Palestinian Authority. I hope the Vice President has had an enjoyable and productive trip, I know that there will be another visit here, where he will be able to complete his tour with a trip to Bethlehem and much more of the Land of Israel!

jeff

Since 1982, Jeff Seidel has introduced thousands of Jewish college students to their first Shabbat experience as well as offered free tours and classes through his Jewish Student Centers at Hebrew U in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, and IDC in Herzliya. He has lived in Jerusalem’s Old City for over thirty years and connected tens of thousands to the Land of Israel. He has also authored “The Jewish Traveler's Resource Guide,” which lists Shabbat placement programs around the world.

*please note- this is the list of schools we usually accept, we do sometimes accept other programs, please contact us if the program you wish to attend is not on this list.

(NOTE – If you are planning on attending Jewel, please keep in mind that you will not be able to use both the JeffSeidel scholarship and the scholarship from Jewel, as both organizations receive funding from the same Foundation.)

(NOTE – If you are planning on attending Aish, please keep in mind that you will not be able to use both the JeffSeidel scholarship and the scholarship from Aish, as both organizations receive funding from the same Foundation.)

Sponsor a Full Trip to Poland

Every Spring-semester we conduct a student mission to Polandfor the overseas students studying at Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion University. Our student mission is led by one of the premier educators of Yad Vashem, Ms. Hazy Flint.Thefour day mission includes traveling to several of the Concentration Camps including Treblinka, Majdanek & Auschwitz. Shabbat is in Krakow enabling the students to see a once vibrant city that was filled with Jewish life and is now desolate.

Cost: $1040/week

Monday night women’s leadership program

Each Monday night we host a women’s program, including a lecture series, one-on-one learning sessions and a variety of programs geared to women including challah baking, zumba classes, mikveh tour and more.

Cost: $3000

Chavrusah: Small Group Learning Program – studying on a personal level

Throughout the semester we arrange small group learning sessions and one-on-one learning sessions on a variety of topics to give the students an opportunity to learn concepts and texts they were not exposed to in the past.

Cost: $250/student

Sponsor a Full Trip to Prague

During the fall academic semester, we conducted a Shabbaton in Prague for 26 students from our 3 University Centers. Our three day Shabbaton combines the Jewish Historical sites such as the Maharal Synagogue and the Terezin (Theresienstadt) Concentration Camps, as well as the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.

Max Steinberg zt”l Israel public diplomacy lecture series

Launched in August 2015 as a response to the rising tide of global anti-Semitism in University campuses, our advocacy program is giving students the tools to combat BDS, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic groups upon return to their home Universities.

Cost: $1000/week

To receive tax deduction from Israel, Canada, or England, you must send a check. We can only offer tax deduction through credit card for US donations.

For Canada:

Checks should be made out to: Jewish Heritage Foundation(Formerly BETH OLOTH)Mailed to: 17 Shonei Halachot, Old City Jerusalem 97501

For Israel:

Checks should be made out to: Ohel Avraham
Mailed to: 17 Shonei Halachot, Old City Jerusalem 97501